Sermon by Nate Wilson for Christ the Redeemer Church, Manhattan, KS 21 Sept 2008
INTRO: Imagine you’re leading a short-term mission trip to Mexico, and your team has been asked to build a church building. What two things you need before you can build? A plan/blueprint and a place/foundation.
1. Foundation of the church is the word of God
A. v.1 & 17 – Why does Paul write? To build up the church. This is what we have as scripture.
B. v.8 – Paul appeals to Psalms to prove a point: “Therefore it says” and he quotes Psalm 68:18.
C. v.11 – What are the teachers to teach?
D. vs.17, 18 – Not man-made teachings and deceit (go into exegesis here)
v.17. Therefore I am saying this and testifying [NAS=affirm; NIV=insist on it] in [NAS=together with] the Lord that y’all are no longer [KJV=henceforth] to walk/live also as the nations walk, in the futility/vanity of their minds [NIV=thinking]
· A Christian’s lifestyle is based upon God’s revealed will, whereas the non-Christian’s lifestyle is based on human thinking.
· The ideas of humanism, such as evolution, socialism, the sexual revolution, democracy, and everything else that man, starting from himself without God, comes up with, are all vanity/futility.
· Vs. 18-19 go on to describe the way of the nations:
18. they continue to exist, having been darkened in their understanding, having been alienated/excluded/separated from the life of God; through/because of the ignorance that continues to exist in them through/because of/due to the hardness/callousness/dullness/stubbornness [KJV=blindness] of their hearts. 19. who, having become apathetic/past feeling/callous/insensitive they delivered/gave over themselves into sensuality/lasciviousness/licentiousness/debauchery, into every [NAS,NIV, ESV add “kind of”] impure/unclean work [NAS,ESV=practice, NIV=indulge] in/by/with greed/covetousness/avarice/lust for more.
· This is human thinking, and it does not provide a good foundation for the church.
· v.18 says that Ignorance of Christ Jesus is separation from God
· The ignorance of the nations is willful and due to callousness toward whatever spiritual light is available to them.
· ILLUSTRATION: I have calluses on the fingers of my left hand because every time I play the guitar, my left fingertips press against the metal strings, and every time they press against those strings, they build up calluses. I now have very little ability to feel things with those fingertips. Likewise, every time you press against God and His word and refuse to listen and refuse to obey, you are building up callouses that make it even harder to hear and respond God. Beware!
· If we are NOT to walk in this way, we should be doing the opposite: walking toward knowledge of God and being responsive to any revelation He gives about Himself.
· How do we do that? By studying the Bible and responding to it.
· This is what the reformation catch-phrase “sola scriptura” means – “only scripture” provides the truth we need.
E. God’s word is the basis for teaching, renewing our minds and knowing truth (vs. 20-24)
v.20. But as for y’all, it was not in this way you learned about Christ 21. if indeed/assuming/surely/ it was Him y’all heard [NIV,ESV add “of/about”] and [if] it was by/in Him y’all were taught, so/just as [NIV=with] truth is in Jesus:
· Contrast between “they” – the world, and “you” – disciples of Jesus Christ
· Sensuality, impurity, and greed have nothing to do with the Biblical teaching of Christ. Anyone who practices these things is not a disciple of Jesus Christ.
· If it was Jesus Christ you heard and who taught you, then you learned to do 3 things listed in vs. 22-24 as infinitives in Greek: (1) to put off the old man, (2) to be renewed by the Spirit and (3) to put on the new man.
22. to put off of you what pertains to/concerning/in reference to/with regard to [ESV=which belongs to] the former conversation/manner/way of life/lit=revolving – the old man [ESV, NAS, NIV=self] which is being corrupted [KJV, ESV=corrupt] according to [NIV=by, ESV=through] the lusts/passions/desires from deception/deceitful. 23. and to be renewed/made new in the spirit [NIV=attitude] of your mind 24. and to put on the new man [NAS, NIV, ESV=self] which was created by/like/after the likeness of God in [NIV, ESV=true] righteousness and in the holiness of truth.
· Paul says that Christ taught these things, but you can hunt all through the Gospels and you will never find the phrase “put off the old man” and “put on the new man.”
· Paul is the only Bible author who wrote things like this here and in Romans 6:6 and Col 3:5-15.
· This means that the apostle Paul was convinced that he was passing on the very words of Christ when he wrote his letters to the New Testament churches. These letters are the word of Jesus and are the sure foundation upon which we can build the church.
· The “old man” that we are to put off is the one that is “corrupted by lust.” Lust/idolatrous desires rise when we are deceived into thinking that God will not supply our needs and something besides God will satisfy our needs.
· How do we fight this deception? How are we “renewed in the spirit of our mind?” (v.23) By reading the Bible regularly!
· God’s word can provide a steady stream of “truth” to wash out the lies and “form” our minds towards “God’s righteousness and holiness.” (v.24) God’s word is the foundation!
2. These scriptures (vs. 7-16) give us a floorplan of what a church - an equipped sainthood – should look like
7. But to each one of us grace was given, according to the measure [NIV=apportioned] of the gift [NIV=it] of Christ, 8. therefore [NIV=this is why] He/it says, “When He went up/ascended into/on the height, He led captivity/the captured [NAS,ESV=a host of captives] captive [NIV=in His train] and He gave gifts to men. 9. But as for the “He ascended,” is it not that also He descended [first] into the lower parts/regions of the earth?
· The church is based on Jesus Christ, who, according to this passage, descended, then ascended.
· What does Christ’s descent mean?
§ Psalm 139. speaks of the “lower of the earth” being the womb, and Ps 113:6, Prov 30:14, and Isa 11:4. speak of the “lower of earth” being poor humans, so this could be consistent with Jesus becoming a human – being born of Mary and being despised among men.
§ Jesus’ “descent” also included
His descent into hell when He suffered the punishment for our sin on the
cross, and that could also include His descent into the earth when He was
buried:
When Psalm 63:9.
speaks of the “lower of the earth” it is describing of the punishment for the
wicked (i.e. hell)
When Rom 10:7 says that Christ
‘descend[ed] into the abyss’ it uses a Greek word exclusively used to describe
hell in the NT (Luke 8:31, Rev.11:7; 17:8; 20:1-3, see also Acts 2:31)
§ Being down in the earth is also used in Matt 12:40, (cf Luke 11) to describe Jesus being three days in the grave like Jonah was in the fish for three days (cf. John 12:24, Phil 2:10, Rev. 5:3,13)
§ So this phrase, “He descended to the lower of the earth” can well encompass not only Jesus becoming a human but also His experiencing the pangs of hell in death in order to pay the price for our sin, and His subsequent burial in the ground.
· Jesus’s “ascending” can include His resurrection from the dead as well as His ascension into heaven to sit at the right hand of God.
· Jesus thus paid the price for sin and rose to be the king of all the sinners that He redeemed with His blood, thus leading us who were captive to sin into a new kingdom under Him (“captivity captive”).
· And then He gives gifts in this new kingdom. Verse11 explains that those gifts are: prophets, apostles, evangelists, and pastor/teachers:
10. The One who descended is Himself [KJV=same, NIV-very, ESV omits] also the one who ascended far above/higher than all the heavens in order that He might fill [NIV=to fill] all things [NIV=the whole universe]. 11. and He Himself gave the [KJV, NAS, NIV=some] apostles, and the prophets, and the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers,
o Apostles – specially commissioned by God – mostly NT leaders and scripture writers
o Prophets – God’s message-bearers, Mostly O.T. leaders and scripture-writers
o Evangelists – preachers of good news, generally not rooted to one place
o Pastor=shepherd – oriented toward the care of one group of Christians
o Teachers seems to be a parallel function of pastors, since they are stuck together grammatically in a way the other offices are not
· All these spiritual officers are given as gifts by Jesus:
12. toward/for the equipment/equipping/perfecting/completion [NIV=to prepare] of the saints [NIV=God’s people], to [the purpose of]/for the work of service/ministry, to/for/so that the construction/edifying/building up of the body of Christ [NIV=may be built up],
· These people are given by Christ to complete the equipping of the ones God has already made holy.
· The way the sentence is constructed, the equipping of the saints and the work of service and the building of the body are NOT all part of one list of duties performed by the evangelists, and pastor/teachers.
· Rather, the officers of the church are given to equip the church so that the saints – everybody in the congregation who has been saved by Jesus Christ – together can fulfill the work of service and the building up of the body.
·
This corporate work of
the church has goals:
We are all to serve God in worship and build the church through
evangelism and discipleship until 3 things happen listed in v.13 and
expanded on in the following verses:
13. until we – all of us – arrive/attain/reach/come into the unity of [NIV=in] the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, into/unto being [NIV=and become] a mature/complete/perfect man, into the [NIV adds “whole”] measure of the stature [NIV omits] of/belonging to the fullness of Christ.
1. Arrival at unity in the faith and knowledge of God
o I do not anticipate denominations in heaven because we will have unity there and know God far better. No more cults and heresies!
2. Being perfect/complete/mature
o I look forward to being perfect in heaven! No more immaturity (v.14); no more weakness!
o James 1:2-6. teaches that faith and longsuffering are what provide stability and maturity
3. Measuring up to the fullness of what Christ intends for the church:
o Remember, we are the “fullness of Him who fills all in all” (1:23)
o The church doesn’t fill the world yet; there are still thousands of ethnic groups who have no church established in their midst – look at the list on www.joshuaproject.org
· So these are the three goals of our work of service to God and building up of the church: Unity of faith, Maturity, and Fullness
14. In order that we might no longer be infants/children, tossed to-and-fro/here-and-there/back-and-forth and carried about [NIV=blown here and there] in/by every wind of teaching/doctrine in/by the cunning/trickery/sleight of men in/by craftiness toward the deceit/scheming/wiles/method/system [KJV=lie in wait] of straying/deceit/error, 15. but being truthful/speaking the truth in/by love we might grow [KJV,ESV,NAS,NIV add “in”] all things into Him, who is the head: Christ 16. out of/from whom all the/the whole body makes/causes [NIV omits] the growth/increase of the body [NIV omits] unto/for/so that the construction/edifying/building up of itself in/by love, joined/fitted together and held together/compacted through every connection/bond/joint/ligament of the equipment/supply/support according to/when/as the [efficient/effectual/proper] working in measure [ESV, NAS, NIV omit] of every single/individual [KJV, ESV, NIV omit] part.
· Again, it’s not just the evangelists and pastors, but the whole body that grows itself
· The way it does this is by:
o Joining together – don’t try to function independently; find a spot on the puzzle and plug your piece in!
o Holding together – don’t let go of the weak when they fall behind, don’t let go of the elders when you don’t like the direction they’re going, hold together!
o Every individual doing their part – don’t wait for others to do the work of the church for you; put your oar in the water and pull in a way that promotes the growth of the church into all the world as God has planned for world history.
o Every part staying in Christ, for it is only “from Him” (v.16) that this all works.
Now that we’ve seen the foundation (the word of God) and the floorplan of the church…
3. Essential fixtures and practical building tips:
· Exegesis of vs. 1-6
1. I, the prisoner on account of/in [KJV,NAS=of, NIV,ESV=for] the Lord, am myself exhorting/beseech/urge/implore y’all, therefore, to walk [NIV=live a life] worthily of the calling [KJV,NAS add “which” ESV adds “to”] which you were called [NIV=received],
· If God has called you to faith in Jesus, it follows that you should walk in a manner that is appropriate to that calling, as Paul says in v.1.
· A list follows in vs.2-3 as to how to walk in a way that fits our calling and which will be effective at building up the whole body of Christ, the church:
2. with all humility/lowliness [NIV=be completely humble…] and gentleness/meekness with patience/long-suffering, putting up with/forbearing/bearing with/showing tolerance for one another in love, 3. hurrying/being diligent/eager/making every effort to keep/preserve/maintain the unity of the Spirit in/through the bond of peace -
§ Walk with humility – story of Hudson Taylor in line for a ferry being mistaken by a merchant for a peasant because of his dress
§ Walk with gentleness – example of Joe C – big guy who has been trained how to kill people, but he embodies more than anyone I’ve met in Manhattan a gentleness that would not extinguish a dying wick or break a bruised reed.
§ Walk with patience, Putting up with/tolerating things that are annoying – I am amazed at the way my wife will stay up through the night comforting a child who is sick and miserable. The child screams and keeps Paula awake, but Paula puts up with the mind-numbing shrieks and the lack of sleep out of love and compassion.
§ v.3 Walk in unity: We should be long-suffering and ignore some things, but we should be quick to make peace when we see the unity of Christians threatened.
· Verses 4-6. explain the phrase “unity of the Spirit”
4. [KJV,ESV,NAS,NIV=There is] one body and one Spirit, just as y’all were called in [NIV,ESV=to] one hope of/belonging to your calling [NIV=when you were called]. (5) one Lord, one faith, one baptism, (6) one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in [KJV adds “you”] all.
· Skipping to the end of the chapter, there are several more issues that will move us toward the goal of unity in the knowledge of God, maturity, and growth. V. 25 deals with the need for truthfulness:
25. Therefore, after/having// putting/laying away/off/aside falsehood/the lie, continue to utter/speak truth [NIV=truthfully] each [KJV=every, NIV omits] with his neighbor, because/for we are [NIV adds “all”] members of one another [NIV=body].
· Quote of Zechariah 8:16, where God commands the remnant who rebuilt Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile: “These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates, and let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love perjury [lying under oath], for all these are what I hate, declares the Lord.” [NASB]
· If you tell other people that nothing is wrong when there is something wrong, it will hurt the whole church. Conversely, if you tell people that something is wrong when it isn’t, you will also hurt the fellowship.
· Reject lies, because telling the truth (cf. v.15) is what is good for the body of Christ.
· The next issue in v.26 is anger:
26. Continue to be angered yet [NIV=in your anger] do not keep sinning; the sun must not [KJV, ESV, NAS, NIV=let not the sun] continue to go down upon your exasperation/provocation/indignation/wrath/anger [NIV=while you are still angry].
· This verse quotes from Psalm 4:2-5. 4. Tremble [LXX= οργιζεσθε, tremble in rage] and sin not: Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.
· What does it mean to be angry and sin not? Context is to have a godly attitude toward what is evil so that we give no place to the devil. Evil should chafe us and yet not cause us to sin.
· H.C.G. Moule in his commentary entitled Ephesians Studies wrote, “Anger, as the mere expression of wounded personality, is sinful; for it means that self is in command. Anger, as the pure expression of repugnance to wrong in loyalty to God, is sinless there where is true occasion for it. The Apostle practically says, let anger, when you feel it, be NEVER from the former motive [selfishness], always from the latter [loyalty to God].”
· The wording in v.26 is kinda funny, commanding us to keep the sun from setting, when it really means to make things right the very day you were offended rather than allowing bitterness to fester in your heart for weeks or years.
· If we hate sin and if we quickly put out selfish anger, this also moves us toward that goal of unity, knowledge of God, growth, and perfection of the body of Christ.
27. And do not give a place [ESV,NAS=opportunity, NIV=foothold] to the Devil
·
Reclaiming
Surrendered Ground book by
Jim Logan – Intro p.13
“… to ‘give
ground’ to the enemy; that is, to permit him to exercise influence over us by
the sins and wrong behavior patterns we allow in our lives. Ephesians 4:27
makes it clear that the believer is the one who yields this ground to Satan. He
has no authority in a Christian's life except that which the Christian
surrenders to him… If the believer cultivates in his life any known sin, he is
giving Satan an opportunity to get a foothold, a beachhead in his life. Satan
will then use this opportunity to invade and take over other areas.”
· Logan goes on to show that when you give the Devil an inch, he’ll take a mile, building strongholds in your life and spreading his influence through you to others in your family.
· That’s why it’s so important to resist the devil, reclaim places you’ve surrendered to him, and give him no “place” to operate.
· So we’ve seen some of the battle-fronts in lies vs. truth-telling (v.25) and anger vs. peacemaking (v.26), then in v.28 we see another one over laziness vs. productivity
28. The one who is stealing [KJV=stole/ESV=thief], let him no longer steal; but rather let him labor at [NIV=work] what is good, working/performing [ESV adds “honest”; NIV=doing something useful] with his own [P46. papyri and Vaticanus omit “own”] hands in order that he might have something to donate/give/share to the one [ESV=anyone, NIV=those] who has [KJV, ESV,NIV omit “has”] a need.
· Work hard so you can give generously!
· This can be income-earning work, or it can be service. You could work hard at learning a foreign language so you can share the gospel with someone who speaks that language, or you could work hard at cleaning or cooking in order to share hospitality.
· Finally, Paul addresses some issues of speech and conversation:
29. Do not continue to let any rotten/corrupt/unwholesome word [KJV=communication, NIV,ESV=talk] proceed/come out of your mouth, but rather it should be something/only such good [NIV=helpful] toward/for building up/edification/construction [NIV adds “others”] of the needy/according to the need [KJV=the use, ESV=fits the occasion] in order that it might give [KJV=minister; NIV=benefit] grace to the hearers. 30. And do not keep grieving the Holy Spirit of God in whom y’all were sealed unto the day of redemption.
· What does it mean to grieve the H.S.? The context of this verse is destructive words in the verse before and after. When we tear down the body of Christ with our words, it grieves the Spirit of God because His purpose is to build the body up.
31. Let all bitterness and wrath/rage and anger and yelling/clamor/brawling and slander/evil speaking be put away from y’all [NIV= “get rid of,” omits “from you”] together with all malice 32. but continue to be kind unto one another, compassionate/tenderhearted, forgiving/being gracious to each other, just as God also in/for the sake of Christ forgave y’all/us.
· Flashes of rage and yelling have no place in the body of Christ.
· Be kind – engaged and useful to others, the kind of person who is pleasant to have around
· Be compassionate – cultivate a heart that finds it easy to ache with the pain of others
· Forgive – give grace out to others
· Jesus, the master builder is the one who sets the pace for us in kindness, compassion, and forgiveness, and this is how we are to go about working on the building.
· More application points to our particular church and presbytery:
o Become a member of Christ the Redeemer Church:
§ This provides definition for the unity of the body and for the work of pastors. For more reasons, see my paper, The Biblical Basis for Formal Church Membership
§ Schedule an interview with me; encourage family members to do the same
§ If you hold membership elsewhere, we can either make you an associate member here or transfer full membership here.
§ Complete the process by taking a vow of membership in a future worship service.
o Help CTR grow from mission status to particular, full-fledged church
§ Help church grow to critical mass through evangelism and discipleship
§ Pray for elders (we have one ordained plus one candidate, and we need one more)
§ Use your gifts to serve in some way with the church where there is a need (financial, teaching, arts, administration, etc.)
o Growing the church beyond our congregation:
§ Help develop short-term discipleship for students and soldiers who are with us for a limited period of time so they are equipped towards church leadership in other places in the future
§ Plant other churches through sending missionaries – both in Kansas and abroad.
CLOSING:
We have a foundation in God’s word, a floorplan for the church in Eph. 4, let’s go to work - build the church!
1. I, the prisoner on account of the Lord, am myself exhorting y’all, therefore,
to walk worthily of the calling which you were called,
2. with all humility and gentleness,
with patience, putting up with one another in love,
3. hurrying to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace -
4. one body and one Spirit,
just as y’all were called in one hope of your calling,
5. one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6. one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all.
7. But to each one of us grace was given, according to the measure of the gift of Christ, 8. therefore He says,
“When He went up into the height, He led captivity captive and He gave gifts to men.”
9. but as for the “He ascended,” is it not that also He descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10. The One who descended is Himself also the one who ascended higher than all the heavens
in order that He might fill all things .
11. and He Himself gave the apostles, and the prophets, and the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers
12. toward the equipment of the saints
to the work of service,
to the construction of the body of Christ ,
13. until we – all of us – arrive
into the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God,
into being a mature man,
into the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
14. In order that we might no longer be infants,
tossed back-and-forth and carried about
in every wind of teaching
in the cunning of men in craftiness toward the deceit of straying,
15. but by being truthful in love we might grow all things into Him,
who is the head: Christ
16. out of whom all the whole body makes the growth of the body
unto the construction of itself in love,
joined together and held together
through every connection of the equipment
according to the working in measure of every single part.
17. Therefore I am saying this and testifying in the Lord that y’all are no longer to walk also as the nations walk,
in the futility of their minds 18. they continue to exist,
having been darkened in their understanding,
having been alienated from the life of God;
through the ignorance that continues to exist in them
through the hardness of their hearts.
19. who, having become apathetic, they delivered themselves into sensuality, into every impure work in greed.
20. But as for y’all, it was not in this way you learned about Christ, 21. if indeed it was Him y’all heard
and it was by Him y’all were taught, so truth is in Jesus:
22. to put off of you what pertains to the former way of life –
the old man which is being corrupted according to the lusts from deception -
23. and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind
24. and to put on the new man which was created by the likeness of God in righteousness and in the holiness of truth.
25. Therefore, after putting off falsehood, continue to utter truth each with his neighbor,
because we are members of one another.
26. Continue to be angered yet do not keep sinning;
the sun must not continue to go down upon your exasperation, 27. and do not give a place to the Devil.
28. The one who is stealing , let him no longer steal; but rather let him labor at what is good,
working with his own hands
in order that he might have something to donate to the one who has a need.
29. Do not continue to let any rotten word proceed out of your mouth, but rather it should be something good
toward building up of the needy in order that it might give grace to the hearers.
30. And do not keep grieving the Holy Spirit of God in whom y’all were sealed unto the day of redemption.
31. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and yelling and slander be put away from y’all together with all malice, 32. but continue to be kind unto one another, compassionate, being gracious to each other, just as God also in Christ forgave y’all.
Commentary by Nate Wilson
Text includes Westcott & Hort Greek with grammatical parsing and a conflation of my translation with KJV, ESV, NAS, and NIV translations. Variations which I think are accurate are separated by slashes, but variations I think are inaccurate are separated with square brackets.
1. παρακαλω PAI-1S ουν υμας 2AP εγω 1NS ο δεσμιος NSM εν κυριω DSM αξιως ADV περιπατησαι AAN της GSF κλησεως GSF ης R-GSF εκληθητε API-2P
I, the prisoner on account of/in [KJV,NAS=of, NIV,ESV=for] the Lord, am myself exhorting/beseech/urge/implore y’all, therefore, to walk [NIV=live a life] worthily of the calling [KJV,NAS add “which” ESV adds “to”] which you were called [NIV=received],
· THEREFORE: (reaches back to the themes of ch. 3)
o since you have been saved by God’s grace
o since the nations have been grafted into God’s people
o since Paul has been entrusted with the responsibility to preach the gospel to the gentiles,
o and since all this is through Jesus Christ
· If you believe in Jesus as Lord, it is because God has graciously “called” you to faith in Him.
· If God has called you to faith in Jesus, it follows that you should walk in a manner that is appropriate to that calling.
· Just as Paul exhorted believers in Asia from his prison cell in Rome to walk consistently with their faith, we can do the same with fellow believers, encouraging and equipping the saints after Paul’s example.
· A list follows in v.2. as to how to walk in a way that fits our calling:
2. μετα πασηςGSF ταπεινοφροσυνης GSF και πραυτητος GSF μετα μακροθυμιας GSF ανεχομενοι PNP-NPM αλληλωνGPM εν αγαπηDSF
with all humility/lowliness [NIV=be completely humble…] and gentleness/meekness with patience/long-suffering, putting up with/forbearing/bearing with/showing tolerance for one another in love,
· walk with humility – story of Hudson Taylor in line for a ferry being mistaken by a merchant for a peasant because of his dress
· walk with gentleness – example of Joe C – big guy who has been trained how to kill people, but he embodies more than anyone I’ve met in Manhattan a gentleness that would not extinguish a dying wick or break a bruised reed.
· walk with patience
· putting up with/tolerating things that are annoying – I am amazed at the way my wife will stay up through the night comforting a child who is sick and miserable. The child screams and keeps Paula awake, but Paula puts up with the mind-numbing shrieks and the lack of sleep out of love and compassion.
· These things are not just about building individual Christians but about building bodies of Christians – churches.
3. σπουδαζοντεςPAP-NPM τηρεινPAN τηνASF ενοτηταASF τουGSN πνευματοςGSN εν τω συνδεσμωDSM της ειρηνηςGSF
hurrying/being diligent/eager/making every effort to keep/preserve/maintain the unity of the Spirit in/through the bond of peace -
· This is the last thing on the list of how to walk worthy of our calling.
· We should be long-suffering and ignore some things, but we should be quick to make peace when we see the unity of Christians threatened.
· Verses 4-6. explain the phrase “unity of the Spirit”
4. ενNSN σωμαNSN και ενNSN πνευμαNSN καθως [και] εκληθητεAPI-2P εν μιαDSF ελπιδιDSF τηςGSF κλησεωςGSF υμων 5. ειςNSM κυριος NSM μιαNSF πιστις NSF ενNSN βαπτισμα NSN 6. ειςNSM θεοςNSM και πατηρNSM παντωνGPM ο NSM επι παντων A-GPM και δια παντων A-GPM και εν πασιν A-DPM
(4) [KJV,ESV,NAS,NIV=There is] one body and one Spirit, just as y’all were called in [NIV,ESV=to] one hope of/belonging to your calling [NIV=when you were called]. (5) one Lord, one faith, one baptism, (6) one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in [KJV adds “you”] all.
· How many bodies of Christ?
· How many faiths?
· How many different kinds of baptism are there?
· How many authorities?
· Note God is both transcendent and imminent.
7. ενιDSM δε εκαστωDSM ημων1GP εδοθηAPI-3S [η]NSF χαριςNSF κατα τοASN μετρονASN της δωρεαςGSF του χριστου
But to each one of us grace was given, according to the measure [NIV=apportioned] of the gift [NIV=it] of Christ,
· Grace has already been called a gift in 2:8, and in 2:7. it has already been stated that the measure of grace that is available is on the order of “immeasurable riches”
· Although there is the “one” in Christianity, there is also the many. There are certain benefits to tagging along with the crowd in the Church, but until you yourself, individually are a recipient of the grace of Jesus Christ, it is incomplete.
8. διο λεγειPAI-3S αναβας 2AANSM εις υψος ASN ηχμαλωτευσεν AAI-3S αιχμαλωσιαν ASF [και – B, Byz] εδωκεν AAI-3S δοματα APN τοις ανθρωποις DPM
therefore [NIV=this is why] He/it says, “When He went up/ascended into/on the height, He led captivity/the captured [NAS,ESV=a host of captives] captive [NIV=in His train] and He gave gifts to men.
· words quote LXX of Psalm 68:18
· this triumphal leading of captives was not done while Jesus was descended, but rather fourty days later while He was ascending to Heaven.
· The gifts are explained in v. 11. as prophets, apostles, evangelists, and pastor/teachers
9. τοNSN δε ανεβηAAI-3S τι I-NSN εστιν PAI-3S ει COND μη οτι και κατεβη AAI-3S [πρωτνον – B, Byz] εις τα APN κατωτεραAPC [μερη] APN της γης GSF
but as for the “He ascended,” is it not that also He descended [first] into the lower parts/regions of the earth?
· Psalm 139. speaks of the “lower of the earth” being the womb, and Ps 113:6, Prov 30:14, and Isa 11:4. speak of the “lower of earth” being poor humans, so this could be consistent with Jesus becoming a human – being born of Mary and being despised among men.
· However, Psalm 63:9. speaks of the “lower of the earth” being the punishment for the wicked (i.e. hell), and there are two other passages of scripture that imply that Jesus descended to the place of the dead:
o
Rom 10:7. “'Who will
descend into the abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”
The Greek word “abyss” denotes depth as in a “pit” and is exclusively used to
describe hell in the NT (Luke 8:31, Rev.11:7; 17:8; 20:1-3)
o Acts 2:31- “you will not abandon my soul to hell” (cf Psalm 16:10. Hebrew=Sheol/ Greek=Hades/ KJV=hell). For the soul of the Messiah to not be left in hell, it had to be there in the first place.
· There are also other passages speaking of Jesus’ death as being “below” the “earth”:
o Matt 12:40, (cf Luke 11) “for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
o John 12:24: Speaking of His death, Jesus said, “Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die”
o Phil 2:10. and Rev. 5:3,13. also speak of the dead as those who are “under the earth”
· So this phrase, “He descended to the lower of the earth” can well encompass not only Jesus becoming a human but also His experiencing the pangs of hell in death in order to pay the price for our sin, and it can include His subsequent burial in the ground.
10. ο NSM καταβας 2AA-NSM αυτος NSM εστιν PAI-3S και ο NSM αναβας 2AA-NSM υπερανω ADV παντωνGPM των GPM ουρανων GPM ινα πληρωση AAS-3S τα APN πανταAPN
The One who descended is Himself [KJV=same, NIV-very, ESV omits] also the one who ascended far above/higher than all the heavens in order that He might fill [NIV=to fill] all things [NIV=the whole universe].
11. και αυτος NSM εδωκεν AAI-3S τους APM μεν αποστολους APM τους APM δε προφητας APM τους APM δε ευαγγελιστας APM τους δε ποιμενας APM και διδασκαλους APM
and He Himself gave the [KJV, NAS, NIV=some] apostles, and the prophets, and the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers,
· What is the role of these different offices?
o Apostles – specially commissioned by God – mostly NT leaders and scripture writers
o Prophets – God’s message-bearers, Mostly O.T. leaders and scripture-writers
o Evangelists – preachers of good news, generally itinerant
o Pastor=shepherd – oriented toward the care of one group of Christians
· pastors and teachers are stuck together grammatically in a way the other offices are not
12. προς τον καταρτισμον ASM των αγιωνGPM [TR, ASV, RSV, some ed.’s of KJV = comma] εις εργον ASN διακονιας GSF εις οικοδομην ASF του σωματος GSN του χριστου GSM
toward/for the equipment/equipping/perfecting/completion [NIV=to prepare] of the saints [NIV=God’s people], to [the purpose of]/for the work of service/ministry, to/for/so that the construction/edifying/building up of the body of Christ [NIV=may be built up],
· These people are given by Christ to complete the equipping of the ones God has already made holy.
· The way the sentence is constructed, the equipping of the saints and the work of service and the building of the Body are not all part of one list of duties performed by the apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor/teachers, although if you read an English translation of the Bible from the first half of the 20th century, it will be punctuated that way.
· The way it should be read is to understand that the officers of the church are given to equip the church so that the saints – the whole church – all together can fulfill the work of service and the building up of the body.
· This corporate work of the church has goals, too, and we are all to serve God in worship and build the church through evangelism and discipleship until certain things happen listed in v.13:
13. μεχρι ADV καταντησωμεν AAS-1P οι NPM παντεςNPM εις την ASF ενοτητα ASF της GSF πιστεως GSF και της επιγνωσεως GSF του υιου GSM του θεου GSM εις ανδρα ASM τελειονASM εις μετρον ASN ηλικιας GSF του GSN πληρωματος GSN του χριστου GSM
until we – all of us – arrive/attain/reach/come into the unity of [NIV=in] the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, into/unto being [NIV=and become] a mature/complete/perfect man, into the [NIV adds “whole”] measure of the stature [NIV omits] of/belonging to the fullness of Christ.
· arrival at unity in the faith and knowledge of God
o I do not anticipate denominations in heaven because we will have unity there and know God far better
· being perfect/complete/mature
o I look forward to being perfect in heaven! No more immaturity (v.14); no more weakness!
· measuring up to the fullness of what Christ intends for the church.
o Remember, we are the fullness of Him who fills all in all 1:23
o The church doesn’t fill the world yet; there are still thousands of ethnic groups who have no church established in their midst – look at the list on www.joshuaproject.org
14. ινα μηκετι ωμενPAS-1P νηπιοιNPM κλυδωνιζομενοιPNP-NPM και περιφερομενοιPPP-NPM παντιDSM ανεμωDSM της διδασκαλιαςGSF εν τηDSF κυβειαDSF των ανθρωπωνGPM εν πανουργιαDSF προς τηνASF μεθοδειανASF της πλανηςGSF
In order that we might no longer be infants/children, tossed to-and-fro/here-and-there/back-and-forth and carried about [NIV=blown here and there] in/by every wind of teaching/doctrine in/by the cunning/trickery/sleight of men in/by craftiness toward the deceit/scheming/wiles/method/system [KJV=lie in wait] of straying/deceit/error,
· Some day there won’t be any cults or heretics to worry about.
15. αληθευοντες PAP-NPM δε εν αγαπηDSF αυξησωμεν AAS-1P εις αυτον ASM τα πανταAPN οςR-NSM εστινPAI-3S η κεφαλη NSF χριστοςNSM
but being truthful/speaking the truth in/by love we might grow [KJV,ESV,NAS,NIV add “in”] all things into Him, who is the head: Christ
· speaking the truth in love for the purpose of relating everything to Jesus Christ is the antidote to being blown about by every wind of doctrine and human cunning.
· Christ is the only rock that will hold firm.
16. εξ ου R-GSM πανNSN το NSN σωμα NSN συναρμολογουμενον PPN-NSN και συμβιβαζομενον PPN-NSN δια πασης αφης GSF της GSF επιχορηγιας GSF κατ’ ενεργειαν ASF εν μετρω DSN ενοςGSM εκαστουGSM μερους GSN την ASF αυξησιν ASF του GSN σωματος GSN ποιειται PMI-3S εις οικοδομην ASF εαυτου F-3GSM εν αγαπη DSF
out of/from whom all the/the whole body makes/causes [NIV omits] the growth/increase of the body [NIV omits] unto/for/so that the construction/edifying/building up of itself in/by love, joined/fitted together and held together/compacted through every connection/bond/joint/ligament of the equipment/supply/support according to/when/as the [efficient/effectual/proper] working in measure [ESV, NAS, NIV omit] of every single/individual [KJV, ESV, NIV omit] part.
· Col 2:18-19. Let no man rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he hath seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19. and not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands (ligaments and sinews), increasing with the increase of God. (cf. Eph 2:21)
· again, it’s not just the evangelists and pastors, but the whole body that grows itself
· The way it does this is by:
o Joining together – don’t try to function independently; find a spot on the puzzle and plug your piece in!
o Holding together – don’t let go of the weak when they fall behind, don’t let go of the elders when you don’t like the direction they’re going, hold together!
o Every individual doing their part – don’t wait for others to do the work of the church for you; put your oar in the water and pull in a way that promotes the big picture of the growth of the church into all the world as God has planned for world history.
o Every part staying in Christ, for it is only “from Him” that this all works.
17. τουτοASN ουν λεγω PAI-1S και μαρτυρομαι PNI-1S εν κυριω DSM μηκετι ADN υμας 2AP περιπατειν PAN καθως και τα NPN εθνη NPN περιπατει PAI-3S εν ματαιοτητι DSF του GSM νοος GSM αυτων GPN
Therefore I am saying this and testifying [NAS=affirm; NIV=insist on it] in [NAS=together with] the Lord that y’all are no longer [KJV=henceforth] to walk/live also as the nations walk, in the futility/vanity of their minds [NIV=thinking]
· This is a very different way of life than the way the nations live.
· A Christian’s lifestyle is based upon God’s revealed will, whereas the non-Christian’s lifestyle is based on human thinking.
· The ideas of humanism, such as evolution, socialism, the sexual revolution, democracy, and everything else that man, starting from himself without God, comes up with, are all vanity.
· The next two verses describe the way of the nations:
18. εσκοτωμενοι RPN-NPM τη DSF διανοια DSF οντες PAP-NPM απηλλοτριωμενοι RPN-NPM της ζωης GSF του θεου GSM δια την ASF αγνοιανASF την ASF ουσαν PAP-ASF εν αυτοις DPM δια την ASF πωρωσιν ASF της καρδιας GSF αυτων GPM
they continue to exist, having been darkened in their understanding, having been alienated/excluded/separated from the life of God; through/because of the ignorance that continues to exist in them through/because of/due to the hardness/callousness/dullness/stubbornness [KJV=blindness] of their hearts.
· Ignorance of Christ Jesus is separation from God
· The ignorance (Acts 3:17; 17:30, I Peter 1:14) of the nations is willful (Moulton & Milligan’s comments on Tebtunis Papyri 1, and 2. Peter 3:5. – although different Greek word) and due to callousness toward whatever spiritual light is available to them.
· If we are NOT to walk in this way, we should be doing the opposite: walking toward knowledge of God and being responsive to any revelation He gives about Himself
19. οιτινες R-NPM απηλγηκοτες RAN-NPM εαυτους F-3APM παρεδωκαν AAI-3P τη DSF ασελγεια DSF εις εργασιαν ASF ακαθαρσιας GSF πασηςGSF εν πλεονεξια DSF
who, having become apathetic/past feeling/callous/insensitive they delivered/gave over themselves into sensuality/lasciviousness/licentiousness/debauchery, into every [NAS,NIV,ESV add “kind of”] impure/unclean work [NAS,ESV=practice, NIV=indulge] in/by/with greed/covetousness/avarice/lust for more
· If you are apathetic toward God and fail to respond to him, you are delivering yourself into the antithesis, which is:
o Existentialism (sensuality – gratifying your five senses, which, apart from God leads to every kind of impurity)
o and Materialism (greed/covetuous/lust for more things)
20. υμεις 2NP δε ουχ ουτως ADV εμαθετε 2AAI-2P τον ASM χριστον ASM
But as for y’all, it was not in this way you learned about Christ
· Contrast between “they” – the world, and “you” – disciples of Jesus Christ
· Sensuality, impurity, and greed have nothing to do with the Biblical teaching of Christ. Anyone who practices these things is not a disciple of Jesus Christ.
21. ειCOND γε αυτον ASM ηκουσατε AAI-2P και εν αυτω DSM εδιδαχθητεAPI-2P καθως εστινPAI-3S αληθεια NSF εν τω DSM ιησουDSM
if indeed/assuming/surely// it was Him y’all heard [NIV,ESV add “of/about”] and [if] it was by/in Him y’all were taught, so/just as [NIV=with] truth is in Jesus:
· This is a first class conditional construction with simple indicatives, connoting that Paul considered the “if” to be in fact true
· Emphasis is placed on the “Him”s also – If it was Jesus Christ you heard and who taught you, then you did not hear about the former, but rather it was the following three infinitives that are characteristic of Christ:
22. αποθεσθαιAMN υμας 2AP κατα την ASF προτεραν A-ASF-C αναστροφην ASF τον ASM παλαιον A-ASM ανθρωπον ASM τον ASM φθειρομενον PPASM κατα τας APF επιθυμιας APF της GSF απατης GSF
to put off of you what pertains to/concerning/in reference to/with regard to [ESV=which belongs to] the former conversation/manner/way of life/lit=revolving – the old man [ESV, NAS, NIV=self] which is being corrupted [KJV, ESV=corrupt] according to [NIV=by, ESV=through] the lusts/passions/desires from deception/deceitful.
· The infinitive “to put off the old man” is the first of the three characteristic teachings of Christ. Although this phraseology is Pauline and not from the Gospel record, Jesus did speak of “laying down” his life for the sheep in John 10. and of the importance of new wineskins rather than using “old” ones in Mark 2:21ff.
· Rom 6:6. knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin;
· Col 3:5-15. Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; 6. for which things' sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience: 7. wherein ye also once walked, when ye lived in these things; 8. but now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth: 9. lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings, 10. and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11. where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all. 12. Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering; 13. forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye: 14. and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. 15. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful.
· Lust/idolatrous desires are created by believing the deception that God will not supply our needs and something besides God will satisfy our needs. This is a lie. Fight the lie!
23. ανανεουσθαι PPN δε τω DSN πνευματι DSN του GSM νοος GSM υμων 2GP
and to be renewed/made new in the spirit [NIV=attitude] of your mind
· The infinitive “to be renewed” is the second characteristic teaching of Christ. Again it is classic Pauline terminology, not from the Gospels except for the concept of “new” wineskins.
24. και ενδυσασθαι AMN τον ASM καινονASM ανθρωπον ASM τον ASM κατα θεον ASM κτισθεντα APP-ASM εν δικαιοσυνη DSF και οσιοτητι DSF της GSF αληθειας GSF
and to put on the new man [NAS, NIV, ESV=self] which was created by/like/after the likeness of God in [NIV, ESV=true] righteousness and in the holiness of truth.
· The infinitive “to put on the new man” is the third characteristic teaching of Jesus
· The “new man” is also Pauline (Eph. 2:15; Col. 3:10), but the verb “put on” is recorded in the Gospels as having been used by Jesus in:
o Mat 22:11. But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment:
o Luke 24:49. And behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high.
· Relph Earle quotes Thayer, Olshausen, Salmond, and Cremer that “righteousness” has more to do with the expression of truth in relationships with other people whereas “holiness” has more to do with the expression of truth in our relationship with God.
25. διο αποθεμενοι AMP-NPM το ASN ψευδος ASN λαλειτε PAM-2P αληθειαν ASF εκαστος A-NSM μετα του GSM πλησιον ADV αυτου GSM οτι εσμεν PAI-1P αλληλωνGPM μελη NPN
Therefore, after/having// putting/laying away/off/aside falsehood/the lie, continue to utter/speak truth [NIV=truthfully]each [KJV=every, NIV omits] with his neighbor, because/for we are [NIV adds “all”] members of one another [NIV=body].
· Quote of Zechariah 8:16, God’s commands to the remnant who rebuilt Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile: “These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates, and let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love perjury, for all these are what I hate, declares the Lord.” [NASB]
· Reject the lie, because telling the truth (cf. v.15) is what is good for the body of Christ and will move us toward that goal of unity, knowledge of God, growth, and perfection.
26. οργιζεσθεPPM-2P και μη αμαρτανετεPAM-2P ο ηλιοςNSM μη επιδυετωPAM-3S επι [τω] παροργισμωDSM υμων2GP
Continue to be angered yet [NIV=in your anger] do not keep sinning; the sun must not [KJV, ESV, NAS, NIV=let not the sun] continue to go down upon your exasperation/provocation/indignation/wrath/anger [NIV=while you are still angry].
· Context is to have a godly attitude toward what is evil and what is good so that we give no place to the devil. Evil should chafe us and yet not cause us to sin.
· “Anger, as the mere expression of wounded personality, is sinful; for it means that self is in command. Anger, as the pure expression of repugnance to wrong in loyalty to God, is sinless there where is true occasion for it. The Apostle practically says, let anger, when you feel it, be NEVER from the former motive, always from the latter.” (H.C.G. Moule Ehesians Studies)
· This verse quotes from Psalm 4:2-5. “You sons of men, how long shall my glory be turned into dishonor? How long will you love vanity, and seek after falsehood? 3. But know that Jehovah has set apart for Himself him that is godly: Jehovah will hear when I call unto Him. 4. Tremble [LXX= οργιζεσθε, tremble in rage] and sin not: Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. 5. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in Jehovah.”
· The wording is ironic, commanding us to keep the sun from setting, when it really means to make things right the very day you were offended rather than allowing bitterness to fester in our heart for weeks or years.
· This also moves us toward that goal of unity, knowledge of God, growth, and perfection of the body of Christ.
27. μηδε διδοτε PAM-2P τοπον ASM τω DSM διαβολω DSM
And do not give a place [ESV,NAS=opportunity, NIV=foothold] to the Devil
28. ο NSM κλεπτων PAP-NSM μηκετι ADN κλεπτετω PAM-3S μαλλον ADV δε κοπιατω PAM-3S εργαζομενος PNN-NSM ταιςDPF [ιδιαις=Sinai., Alex., Claramont., Byz., miniscules]DPF χερσινDPF τοASN
αγαθονASN
ινα εχηPAS-3S μεταδιδοναιPAN τωDSM
χρειανASF
εχοντιPAP-DSM
The one who is stealing [KJV=stole/ESV=thief], let him no longer steal; but rather let him labor at [NIV=work] what is good, working/performing [ESV adds “honest”; NIV=doing something useful] with his own [P46. papyri and Vaticanus omit “own”] hands in order that he might have something to donate/give/share to the one [ESV=anyone, NIV=those] who has [KJV, ESV,NIV omit “has”] a need.
· In addition to truth-telling (v.25) and peacemaking (v.26), productivity and generosity contribute to a healthy church.
29. παςNSM λογος NSM σαπρος A-NSM εκ του GSN στοματος GSN υμων 2GP μη εκπορευεσθω PNM-3S αλλα ει COND τιςNSM αγαθοςNSM προς οικοδομην ASF της χρειας GSF ινα δω 2AAS-3S χαριν ASF τοις DPM ακουουσιν PAP-DPM
Do not continue to let any rotten/corrupt/unwholesome word [KJV=communication, NIV,ESV=talk] proceed/come out of your mouth, but rather it should be something/only such good [NIV=helpful] toward/for building up/edification/construction [NIV adds “others”] of the needy/according to the need [KJV=the use, ESV=fits the occasion] in order that it might give [KJV=minister; NIV=benefit] grace to the hearers.
· The Present tense verb indicates that people have been talking in a fleshly way and that they need to stop it altogether
· This is a complete transformation in speech so that EVERY fleshly word is replaced and WHATEVER is said now needs to be a gift of grace
· Our speech needs to be edifying where there is a need. For some people this will mean pulling your bricks out of storage and building with them by saying what needs to be said in terms of encouraging words when no one else is saying them; for others, it might mean not laying bricks where there is already a good wall – in other words, shutting up rather than repeating something that has been said enough already.
30. και μη λυπειτεPAM-2P το ASN πνευμα ASN το αγιον A-ASN του θεου GSM εν ω R-DSN εσφραγισθητε API-2P εις ημεραν ASF απολυτρωσεωςGSF
And do not keep grieving the Holy Spirit of God in/by/with whom y’all were sealed unto/for the day of redemption.
· What does it mean to grieve the H.S.? The context of this verse is destructive words in the verse before and after. When we tear down the body of Christ with our words, it grieves the Spirit of God because His purpose is to build the body up.
31. πασα NSF πικρια NSF και θυμος NSM και οργη NSF και κραυγη NSF και βλασφημια NSF αρθητω APM-3S αφ’ υμων 2GP συν παση DSF κακια DSF
Let all bitterness and wrath/rage and anger and yelling/clamor/brawling and slander/evil speaking be put away from y’all [NIV= “get rid of,” omits “from you”] together with all malice
· Colossians 3:8-9. “Now you also put away from your mouth all anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech. Do not lie to one another, since you laid off the old self with its deeds…
32. γινεσθε PNM-2P [δε] εις αλληλους APM χρηστοι NPM ευσπλαγχνοι NPM χαριζομενοι PNP-NPM εαυτοις2DPM καθως ADV και ο θεος NSM εν χριστω DSM εχαρισατο ADI-3S υμιν 2DP [p46, Sinai., Alex.]/ ημιν [p49, Vatic., Byz]
but continue to be kind unto one another, compassionate/tenderhearted, forgiving/being gracious to each other, just as God also in/for the sake of Christ forgave y’all/us.
· This list is much like the one in v.2
· be kind – engaged and useful to others, the kind of person who is pleasant to have around
· be compassionate – cultivate a heart that finds it easy to ache with the pain of others
· forgive – give out grace